The band which Blur frontman Damon Albarn started as a side project eclipsed his day job last night by leading the field for this year's Brit Awards as the shortlists were unveiled.

The band which Blur frontman Damon Albarn started as a side project eclipsed his day job last night by leading the field for this year's Brit Awards as the shortlists were unveiled.

Gorillaz, a studio-based project with illustrator Jamie Hewlett, were nominated for six prizes, only the second time a single act has amassed so many.

And Dido, crowning a year in which she came virtually from nowhere to land the best-selling album of 2001 with No Angel, landed four nominations.

The singer rose to stardom after rapper Eminem chose her song Thank You as the backing track to his chart-topper Stan and has now sold more than 12 million albums worldwide.

Also shortlisted for four prizes are pop heartthrob Robbie Williams - who has previously won 12 Brits for his solo career and years with Take That - and Kylie Minogue.

The nominations were announced yesterday at a party in London's Abbey Road studios where The Beatles honed many of their finest moments.

Gorillaz were dreamt up as a cartoon concept with musicians performing under pseudonyms while Hewlett created a series of characters for band members.

Blur's highest number of Brit nominations was five when they were riding high on the Britpop wave. That tally was a record until broken last year by Craig David with six.

Unfortunately for David he failed to convert any of his nominations last year into actual prizes but he has been given a chance to redeem himself by being shortlisted three further times.

Because of the release date for his album Born To Do It, it is again eligible this year and is up against releases by Dido (No Angel), Radiohead (Kid A), Travis (The Invisible Band) and the self-titled Gorillaz LP for best album. The event takes place on February 20 -televised the following night - at Earl's Court in London.